Andina

Peru Prosecutors interrogate former Odebrecht employees in Brazil

10:33 | Curitiba (Brazil), Feb. 18.

Peruvian Prosecutors Rafael Vela and Jose Domingo Perez —members of the Lava Jato Case Special Prosecution Group— on Monday started to interrogate former Odebrecht employees linked to ex-Presidents Alan Garcia and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski.

Last Friday, Peru's Lava Jato Case Special Prosecution Group signed the long-awaited collaboration agreement with Odebrecht representatives and former employees in Brazil.

This deal is intended to procure evidence and testimonies for the investigation of corruption cases in the Andean nation.

The interrogation is being held at Brazil's Public Prosecution Office, within the framework of the Lava Jato probe. 

The prosecutors will question Marcos de Queiroz Grillo, who was part of the Division of Structured Operations (also known as Box Two) —the construction company's bribery department. He was in charge of generating —through fictitious contracts— the resources destined to pay bribes. 

Jose Americo Vieira Spinola —an intermediary between the money from Box Two and Garcia— will also give his statement. 

According to the Prosecutor's Office, Grillo asked Spinola to hire former President Garcia for a lecture in Brazil, allegedly paying him US$100,000

On the occasion, they will be joined by Prosecutor Jorge Ramirez, as well as Alan Garcia's and Ollanta Humala's attorneys.

Odebrecht

As is known, the Brazilian construction giant admitted to having paid millions in bribes to government officials in Peru, in order to secure public-works contracts.

As a result, Odebrecht benefited from over US$143 million between 2005 and 2014 in Peru, according to the U.S. Justice Department. 

In addition, four ex-Presidents have been linked to the Brazilian company such as: Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006), Alan Garcia (2006-2011), Ollanta Humala (2011-2016), and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (2016-2018)

Former presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori —currently under preventive detention— also allegedly received money from Odebrecht for her 2011 campaign.

(END) CVC/CCR/DTK/MVB

Published: 2/18/2019